July 7, 1900.]
Wharf, on the Praya Reclamation, as an adnex to the new Government buildings (for Europeans Only); beneath the stops at the top of Duddell Street; on the vacant land at Peddar's Hill and at the foot of the steps leading to Wyndham Street; in the base of the Clock Tower until it --is removed; on vacant land on the east side of Old Bailey; on the site of the disused fountain opposite No. 2 Police Station.
On the motion of Dr. Lowson, seconded by Lieut. Col. RYAN, the report was adopted, and it was decided to forward a copy to the Govern-
ment.
EUROPÉAN DISTRICT RESERVATION 'ORDİNANCE.
A letter was read from the Acting Colonial Secretary in reply to the resolution of the Bourd recommending the Government to extend the provisions of European District Reservation Ordinance No. 16 of 1888 to a portion of the Kowloon Peninsula, and stating that the ques- tion was under the consideration of the Govern-
ment.
ANTI-PLAGUE SERUM.
-CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
"THE PLAGUE AT MACAO, paling by runners/Intelligence caND There were 150 deaths in Macao for the week day that they had shad Yæsvoresfi; ended 17th June, 16 béing from plague.
'THE HEALTH OF THE COLONY. The death rate for the week ended 23rd June was 341, against 811 for the previous week and 504 for the corresponding week last year.
:This was all the business.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA
THE CAPTURE OF THE TAKU FORTS-THE
RELIEF OF TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
-Taku, 22nd June. History has once more repeated itself the Taku Forts being again bombarded and cap tured by the forces of a combined Foreign Fleet. The fight took place last Sunday, 17th inst., being commenced at 12.45 p.m. by the Chinese, who had refused to accede to the ultimatum issued by the admirals for the hand- Reports were submitted on anti-plague seraming over of the forts by 2 p.m. that day. The and also minutes by Dr. Lowson and Dr, Clark, forts were bombarded by the smaller ships of Dr. CLARK said that in view of the present the combined fleets, the water being too shallow political situation in China, any attempt to for the larger vessels to get sufficiently close to experiment in this matter would be ill-advised, join in the attack. Each Power sent a storm and he proposed that the matter be considered party on shore, who, as soon as the naval firing three month's hence.
ceased, attacked the forts from the rear and Mr. OSBORNE seconded and the motion was carried them at the bayonet's point, the British naval brigade being the first to hoist their flag. SMOKE NUISANCES.
Seeing that the Russians were hard-pressed, our force immediately went to their assistance and assisted to carry the fort assigned to their contingent, each foreign brigade' having been allotted a specific duty, to lessen the confusion which must happen in attacks of this kind.
carried.
A minute was submitted by the M. O. H. relative to smoke nuisances. He said:-
"I frequently receive complaints respecting smoke nuisances, and am powerless to deal with them in the present state of the law.
"In view of the steady increase in the number of establishments causing such nuisances, I think the Board should recommend the Go- vernment to introduce a short Smoke-Abate ment Ordinance. Among the principle of fenders at present are a foundry in the Queen's Road and a pumping engine on the Reclamation near the Queen's Building, while the French mail steamers are notorious offenders in this respect.
Considering the strength of the position and the heavy modern ordnance used against them, the casualties of the combined forces were light-only just over 100, including one killed and nine wounded in the British brigade. During the engagement a Russian gunboat received a shot through one of her boilers, causing an explosion and wounding a large number of the crew. ・・ H. M. destroyer Whiting also received a shot through her bunker, which put her out In the Imperial Public Health Act, 1875, of action but injured no one. The Fame smoke nuisances can be dealt with just as any captured four Chinese destroyers at this an- other nuisance, but the Hongkong Public|chorage, shooting those who resisted, while the Health Ordinance gives no such powers." majority jumped overboard. The captured craft were distributed, the Russians, French, Germans, and British taking one each as a momento of the action.
The following minutes were also appen ded:-
:
+
Dr. Hartigan:- "The M. O. H. might have added the disinfecting apparatus at West Point to his list. I agree with the M. O. H."
Mr. Chan A Fook:-"I think such Ordinance is necessary.
Lieut. Col. Ryan "Iagree with the M.O.H. Mr. Bädeley:- I agree with the Mr. C. H. Dr. Lowson:-"I agree with the M. O. H." The President:-"I do not agree. I think there is very little smoke except from Chinese cooking for an hour or so in a day."
-Dr. CLARK proposed that the Board recom- mend the Government to make the law as to smoke nuisances the same in the colony that it is at home.
""
place, the rebels reportedly stormin tions, and were being bombarded bysl from war-junks as well as from "Reinforcements wereîurgently need
being especially asked for and appa wanted. The Termole farrived nvesteri | 400 troops on board from? Hongkong, made is quick passage upsiherfinaly enabled a relieving force to bevat 'oneor their assistance and Tientsin was probał from horrors that wouldlikave enlipsed that occurred in the “Mutiny "days. '• the bruiser's passage, Captain Soottamamined several 12 pdr. quick firers kimilar tomthe which have already done such good serv South Africa, and today some of thes with a Naval Brigade from that ship handed for a service on whore. This crew will have an experience, taking part in two campaigns whilst both are still proceeding; having provided the greater portion of the Naval Brigade for the relief of Ladysmith, they will know well how to duplicate that performance.
Owing to absolute lack of transport, and the railway to Tientsin being partially destroyed, great difficulty is experienced in ymoving sup supplies and guns.
Details of the taking of the forts was obtained. to-day, which show how stubborn was the resist- ance offered by the rebels.
Takn 25th June. The situation at Taku romains practicallyas it is when described in my last letter)exøpt that the troops of all nationalities are new arriving quickly and that news of the liftof Tientsin is expected very soon. Nothing has yet been heard of the Commander-in-chief and his force. The European residents here were very nueasy to-night, as vague rumours were afloat that the rebels were near the town. Every precaution has been taken to-day against any rising or trouble that may occur day or night.
I hear that the Russians have concentrated a large number of stroops at Newnhwang and propose to proceed from that place to Faking and Tientsin. The Manchurians, however, are | said to be rising to oppose them.
The rebels have gathered in great numbers to oppose the Tientsin relief column, and abe- yond the fact that a great-fire-can be seen from Tientsin, nothing further is known since my last letter.
H.M.S. Terrible left: Taku yesterdaysand is now at Chefoo, where there are also two British gunboats, two Japanese cruisers had a
HOW TIENTSIN WAS RELIEVED “THE
As the British commander-in-chief's com- munications had been cut off from the interior,Chinese vessel. and Tientsin threatened, it - was absolutely essential that these forts, which command the entrance of the Peiho River, should be in the possession of the combined forces and used at a: base for future operations
The ships at present at Taku are the Algerine Auroru, Barfleur, Centurion, Endymion, Fame, Orlando, Terrible (British); Rossia (Russian); Hertha, Kaiserinn Augusta, Hebe, Gefion (German); Newark (U.S.); D'Entreeusteaur (French); Zenta (Austrian); Elba (Italian); and five Japanese.
Capt. Bailey of the Aurora and Capt. Burke of the Orlando are in Tientsin; Capt. Warren- der is moving up with the relief column; Capt. Callaghan of the Endymion is attending to the
Admiral Seymour.
· ACCOUNT OF A BELIEVER, ON A private letter received in the Colony gives a graphic description of the relief of /Fientsin by the composite force, by one of the resoners who went up from Hongkong by the Terrible-- which, by the way, chei reports;rat one time put. on work for 19 knots and was only able to git 9, owing to the tremendously heavy ssease He writes that the Taku Forts are cof the very best, and beautifully armed. It beata) me
they were taken.” He continues:“At Tow
next morning [after arrival] we were taken to Taku, your base camp. Going up the riversit was very nice hearing soldiers and milorge of all nations: cheeringuins as two hours after
Mr. OSBORNE said it was at very well to- make a law to compel people to consume their own smoke, but the people who passed that law should tell them how to do it. He knew that several engineers in the colony-had been landing and transport. Capt. Jellicoe is with disembarking we entrained for our first c asked how this smoke nuisance could be abated, and they had given it up as a bad job. He pro- posed as an amendment that the matter he **referred to the Government, and that they be *rasked to institute enquiries.
Dr. CLARK said he was quite prepared to let his motion drop and second that of Mr. OSBORNE. His (Dr. Clark's) motion was not seconded.
Mr. Osborne's proposition was carried
"EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS.
Later.
for Tientsin was reported in flames and very precarious. We had not gont bern miles deføre It appears that the English Admiral had with we ran off the line, our first icarriagewa him a composite force of British, Russians, our gun being totally wrecked. Capt. Grad French, Germans, Americans and Japanese, R.N., and Major Morris were in it and got bad- oonsisting of about 2,000 men, one half of whom ly bruised. In due course, after repairing the Were Bluejackets and Marines from our fleet. line in various places, we arrived at ourstra Taking 250 rounds of ammunition per man, camp. Next morning we started again they proceeded by rail from here en route to this time marching, élearing the equat Peking on the 13th inst., but on getting through and left of the line, so as to allow the te Tientsin found that the railway shad been des-taining the Russians, 400, Infantry, with An application for exemption from concret- troyed in several places; which caused consider to come up. After arrival in camp ing the ground floor of No. 9, Arbuthnot Road,able delays. Time being of the utmost impor-sance in force, 200 strong, m was refused.
tance the Admiral decided to leave the railwaydiers or Boxers were met with! and proceed by road, since when nothing has the stuffing out of them and bur been heard from him, although no real anxiety Next morning we again advanced is felt for the safety of the force under his com- object being Tientsin, but honestly THE LIMEWASHING RETURN.
mand. After the capture of the Forts, Tient-expected to get there, as twd previ The fortnightly limewashing return showed sin was occupied by the combined forces, Captain had failed. However, with some that there had been two prosecutions in the Bayley (HM.S. Aurora) being in command ::200 Germans, 100 Eastern District and 166 in the Central Dis- of the Naval Brigade at that place, but com- Fusiliers and 300A Blua ja triots, the fines in the former amounting to $20munication was cut shortly after the town was the Russians on the right of th and in the latter to $1,061.
occupied, although news got through each way British on the left. At about 8 an
An application for exemption from constract- ring a backyard to No. 10 and 14, Gage Street,
was deferred.
mads andės
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